Deception In Spoon River Anthology, By Edgar Lee Masters

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out (Proverbs 10:9). Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters, is a collection of epitaphs revealing dark secrets about the residents of Spoon River. As readers go through each passage, it reveals more secrets and connections, these secrets disclose relationships, deaths, and lies between the townspeople. People's actions often reveal hidden truths, as these emerge, the consequences of these actions become evident. Many townspeople in Spoon River make poor choices, which eventually lead to their downfall. Deception is concealing the truth, particularly to gain an advantage. In Spoon River Anthology Butch Weldy serves as a prime example of deception, Butch

In this context, some individuals in Spoon River Anthology fear others who they perceive as more powerful and indifferent. One example from Spoon River is Minerva Jones. Minerva becomes anxious and worried after becoming pregnant. According to Minerva, Butch left her to her fate with Dr. Meyers (Line 6). Dr. Meyers, supposedly a trustworthy doctor, fails her, leading to her demise. Minerva, already fearful, worries people will remember her for a terrible scandal rather than her talents and aspiring dreams to be a poet. Concluding her epitaph with, "Will someone go to the village newspaper,/ and gather into a book the verses I wrote?- (Lines 9/10). Correspondingly, Mrs. Meyers is another resident of Spoon River who lives in fear. Mrs. Meyers is Dr. Meyer's wife and has no name in Spoon River Anthology, indicating she lives in her husband's shadow. In Spoon River Anthology, Mrs. Meyers starts by saying he is not at fault for Minerva's fall (Line 3). But then she claims, he had broken the law human and divine (Line 7). Mrs. Meyers initially defends him out of fear, claiming Dr. Meyers's actions were not his